Flashing old Apalis module with tezi image

[farooq]

Hi folks,
we are using some old apalis IMX6 modules with uboot version 2016, and do not have the possibility to use Tezi image build with yocto. We are using a custom board with no option to recover the apalis modules. How can I flash it now with tezi?

[ToradexAI]

Hi, I’m the Toradex AI Assistant. The Toradex Support team will follow up with you shortly!

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Hello,

To flash your old Apalis iMX6 module with a Toradex Easy Installer (Tezi) image, you can follow these steps, considering your constraints with an older U-Boot version and a custom board:

1. Enter Recovery Mode: If your module does not boot into Tezi by default, you will need to enter recovery mode. This is typically done by connecting the module to a host computer via the USB OTG port. If your custom board lacks a dedicated recovery button, please refer to your board’s documentation for alternative methods to enter recovery mode.

2. Load Tezi via USB OTG:

   • Download the Toradex Easy Installer package to your host computer.
   • Unzip the package.
   • Connect your module to the host computer using a USB OTG cable.
   • Use the provided scripts in the Tezi package to load the installer into the module’s RAM. This involves running a script that communicates with the module over USB to load Tezi.

3. Alternative: Load Tezi from External Media:

   • If USB OTG is not feasible, prepare an SD card or USB stick with the Tezi files.
   • Unzip the Easy Installer into the root directory of the external media.
   • Rename boot-tezi.scr to boot.scr to ensure U-Boot recognizes it.
   • Insert the media into the module and power it on. The module should boot from the external media if configured correctly.

4. Using Tezi:

   • Once Tezi is loaded, its GUI will appear on a connected display or can be accessed via VNC if no display is available.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to flash the desired image onto your module.

5. Troubleshooting:

   • Ensure all connections are secure and the correct drivers are installed on your host computer.
   • If the module does not enter recovery mode, verify your setup and try different USB ports or cables.

By following these steps, you should be able to flash your Apalis iMX6 module with the desired Tezi image, even with the limitations of an older U-Boot version and a custom board setup.

Best regards,
Toradex AI Assistant

Please, also check if these links can help you solve your problem:

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[rudhi.tx]

Hello @farooq,

Do you have a USB port on your carrier board that can act in the client/device mode? In that case you can still put the module in recovery mode by shorting the recovery mode pads on the module:

You can read more about this in the “Recovery” section on the datasheet of Apalis iMX6.
Once you have the device/target connected to your PC via the USB (client mode), you can check if it is visible/accessible in recovery mode with lsusb command from your PC. Then you can load Toradex Easy Installer by running the bash/bat script.
Please let me know if this helps.

[farooq]

yes we have a usb port available on custom board. Do I have to short the pins as you suggested in the image ?

[rudhi.tx]

Yes, those pads need to be shorted. Then you can check with the lsusb command on your PC to see if it lists the i.MX6 device. If yes, you are good to go.